NOTE: The initial headline indicated that the weapons were seized at the school. This was based on unclear information provided prior to the press conference. We have corrected the headline and apologize for the error!

Today, Anne Arundel County Police in conjunction with the Anne Arundel County Public Schools announced a weapons seizure stemming from a trespassing incident at North County High School on Monday, February 4, 2013. The subsequent investigation led to the seizure of several weapons. The incident occurred near dismissal on Monday at the Glen Burnie School.

A press conference is scheduled to get underway at 3:30pm and Acting County Executive John Hammond, Superintendant of Schools Kevin Maxwell and several members of the Anne Arundel County Police Department are expected.

Note: This will be a live blog!

In a nutshell, a trespasser was caught in the school on Monday and detained by school officials. His comments caused concern to the police and they obtained a search warrant and seized many legally owned firearms. Some were loaded. The suspect is being evaluated.

The live blog is not working, we will have video and full coverage shortly.

On Monday, February 4, 2013, at approximately 1:45 p.m., a custodial employee of North County High School, 10 1st Avenue East, Glen Burnie, Maryland 20161, noticed suspicious activity at the school. The employee heard the sound of an unknown person pulling on an exterior door handle; the custodian inferred this as someone trying to enter the school in an area not normally used by visitors. The custodian used a school-based radio to call for assistance from the School Resource Officer (SRO) assigned to North County High School.

The SRO immediately went outside to search the school grounds. As he was making his way around the expansive building, he received word that an unknown adult male followed a school employee inside the building via a rear door near the school’s loading dock. School officials who had already been alerted to the presence of a possible intruder quickly located and challenged the male. They escorted the male to the school’s office, where the SRO met them and began an investigation.

The suspect, later identified as 25-year-old Justin Matthew Beaumont from Glen Burnie, indicated he is a former North County High School student. Beaumont did not make any threats to harm anyone at the school nor were any weapons or illegal items found during a search of Mr. Beaumont and his vehicle, however, an empty handgun holster was found inside his car. No firearms or ammunition were present. Beaumont’s account of his reasons for being at the school included indications he had been subjected to bullying during his enrollment; he also made inquires about school security and referenced his previous military experience.

As result of his unauthorized presence at North County High School, Beaumont was charged with Trespassing on Posted Property, a misdemeanor offense, and later released. Although there were no other criminal violations noted at the scene, recent violent and tragic events throughout the nation, coupled with Beaumont’s statements and actions, led the School Safety Section Commander to contact Colonel Larry W. Tolliver and apprise him of the extremely unusual and alarming circumstances of this incident. Colonel Tolliver immediately directed Northern District Detectives, and all other necessary police department resources, to investigate Beaumont’s activities prior to his arrival to North County High School on February 4, 2013.

Northern District Detectives learned Beaumont is the lawfully registered owner of several firearms, including an AK-47, an Uzi assault weapon and three handguns. Based on the totality of the circumstances and the Mental Health Evaluation Article, Detectives applied for and received a search and seizure warrant for Beaumont’s home and vehicle. The search warrant was intended to hold Beaumont’s firearms for safekeeping pending his evaluation by mental health professionals.

Upon service of the search warrant, detectives recovered the AK-47 rifle under Beaumont’s bed. The weapon was loaded with a 30 round magazine. An Uzi was also found under Beaumont’s bed; it was not loaded. Two unloaded 8 MM bolt action rifles were found in a case under the bed. An unloaded Jennings .22 caliber handgun was found in a box under the bed, and a loaded Kel Tec .380 handgun equipped with a laser sight was found between the bed’s mattresses. A 9 MM barrel and silencer, along with ammunition and numerous ammunition magazines were additionally recovered. These weapons and materials have been taken into police custody for safe-keeping pending additional investigation.

According to school officials, Justin Beaumont attended North County High School for only two months in 2002 before transferring to a different high school. He is currently undergoing medical treatment, and at this time, it appears all weapons and ammunition were legally owned.

As with every incident, lessons are learned and improvements are made. With notable exception of the suspect entering a door that should have been pulled completely shut, school officials and the SRO reacted quickly, appropriately and effectively to ensure the intruder was confronted and unable to encounter students.

This incident and subsequent investigation, although potentially alarming, illustrates the commitment to school safety and partnerships between the Anne Arundel County Police Department, Anne Arundel County Schools, the Anne Arundel County State’s Attorney’s Office, the Maryland Coordination and Analysis Center and other federal agencies. What began as a misdemeanor trespassing offense continues to be thoroughly investigated to ensure students, staff and visitors remain safe at our schools.

John is the publisher and editor of Eye On Annapolis. As a resident and business owner in Anne Arundel County for more than 15 years, he realized that there was something missing in terms of community news--and Eye On Annapolis was born in late spring 2009.
John's background is in the travel industry as a business owner, industry speaker, and travel writer. In terms of blogging and social media, he cut his teeth with MSNBC.com.

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A concerned parent

Where’s the video?
The news didn’t tell us anything more than we already knew…

http://www.eyeonannapolis.net/ John Frenaye

It is processing. I am including the entire press conference. 30 mins. Stand by!

Christina

Justin Beaumont is not a former NCHS student as far as I am concerned I graduated 2005 and when I looked into that year’s yearbook, he was not found at all in any of the classes. I referenced 2005: Defining Knights, which most likely can be found in NCHS’s media center.

Mr Breeze

He will never see his Firearms again.

http://www.eyeonannapolis.net/ John Frenaye

The employee did not “let” him in, apparently he followed the employee in and the employee did not notice. As for the weapons, it was a combination of his saying he was bullied, questioning the security of the school and talking about military service that led police to investigate further.